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Byeoksongsa - Hamyang, South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea (Buddhist Temple)

by Steve | Apr 27, 2015 | 118 | 21

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Buddhist Temple Byeoksongsa South Gyeongsang Province South Korea
Byeoksongsa was founded at the end of the Silla era, rebuilt by the Buddhist monk Byeoksong in 1520 and then renamed Byeoksongsa. Seosan and Samyeong, two of the most well-known and respected Buddhist monks in Korea organized an army to fight against the invading Japanese during the Japanese Invasion of Korea in 1592, here. Destroyed by an accidental fire in 1704, Hwanseongjiandaesa rebuilt Byeoksongsa in 1850.

Due to war in 1950, the temple was again destroyed. In 1960 Woneong Priest Guhan re-established Byeoksongsa that exists to this day. Right behind the temple are two pine trees called 'Miinsong,' or a beauty's pine, and 'Doinsong,' or an ascetic's pine. There is a folk legend that says you'll become healthy if you pray to Doinsong and beautiful if you pray to Miinsong. The totem poles that stand at the entrance of Beoksongsa not only block the entrance of evil spirits, but also represent rules of geomancy.